Authentic-looking brown tourist signs for "Glen Urquhart Castle" have been placed on either side of the Drumnadrochit bridge, but the word "Glen" is printed in a smaller typeface.

It is causing confusion for tourists, who believe the sign is for Urquhart Castle, when in fact it is for Glen Urquhart Castle, a modern wooden structure and part of the Original Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre.

Scores of visitors have been left scratching their heads in confusion and cross-checking maps after driving up the A831 towards the centre, in completely the wrong direction for Urquhart Castle.

It has led to fears from Glenurquhart Community Council that the signs are a potential road safety hazard and it is demanding either Transport Scotland or Highland Council's planning department takes action.

At the Original Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre, another sign advertises Glen Urquhart Castle, on a loch beside a superimposed monster.

Again, the word "Glen" is in smaller typeface.

Community council chairman David Fraser said the number of signs advertising local businesses on the bridge had been a bone of contention for some time because of concerns they distract motorists coming into Drumnadrochit.

"It's a difficult junction and we think they can cause confusion to drivers," he said. "Several people had noticed a number of people were confused by the new signage pointing to the castle. Our overriding concern is that this causes confusion and as such are a traffic hazard."

The sign pointing tourists to 'Glen' Urquhart Castle which the community council chairman claims could prove a traffic hazard. Bobby Nelson

Mr Fraser added the community council understood local firms wanted to promote their businesses, but it had to done in a sensible manner.

"It's important for the village that the businesses do well and it's also important that people are able to promote their businesses and people can find them," he said. "We would like the businesses and the planners to get together and look at better signage for the whole village and there are other areas which could benefit from that. We are not saying they shouldn't have signs."

He plans to write to the local authority and Transport Scotland to ask them to look into the issue.

Centre proprietor Donald Skinner could not be contacted yesterday to explain the confusing sign, directing people to his attraction.

Last summer, more than 20 guesthouses and restaurants were ordered to remove unauthorised advertising signs along the A82 for road safety reasons by Transport Scotland.

It wanted a "less visually cluttered" route for drivers.

h.ross@inverness-courier.co.uk

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